Madura. Pillar in Trimul Naik's Portico [Pudu Mandapa]. Shiva

Photograph from an album of 41 albumen prints by Edmund David Lyon. The Minakshi Sundareshvara Temple in Madurai is famous for its sculpted columns, and the Pudhu Mandapam (hall) built by Tirumala Nayaka (reigned 1623-59) has many fine examples. Lyon's 'Notes to Accompany a Series of Photographs Prepared to Illustrate the Ancient Architecture of Southern India', edited by James Fergusson, gives the following description of this photograph which 'shows the Pillar at the south end of the passage or aisle at the west end of the porch. It represents Shiva dancing, and exulting at his victory over the slaughtered Tripurasura [the demon of ignorance] whose body he is trampling on. His right leg placed in a most extraordinary position, which, however, is a favourite one with Hindu sculptors.'